Bergen International Jazz Festival or Nattjazz, is one of the largest

jazz festival This is a list of notable jazz festivals around the world. Historic jazz festivals Jazz festivals by country The following is an incomplete list of notable jazz festivals, including both current and defunct festivals of note. Africa Angol ...

s of

Norway Norway, officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic countries, Nordic country located on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. The remote Arctic island of Jan Mayen and the archipelago of Svalbard also form part of the Kingdom of ...

. The festival has a musical profile with an emphasis on ethnic and contemporary jazz. It is held annually in late May, coinciding with

Festspillene i Bergen Bergen International Festival () is an annual international music and cultural festival in Bergen, Norway. In Spring 2022, Lars Petter Hagen took over as festival director. Biography The Bergen International festival is the largest festival ...

, and is located at Verftet in

Bergen Municipality Bergen (, ) is a city and municipalities of Norway, municipality in Vestland county on the Western Norway, west coast of Norway. Bergen is the list of towns and cities in Norway, second-largest city in Norway after the capital Oslo. By May 20 ...

Biography

The festival was arranged for the first time in 1972 at ''Håndverkeren'' in

Bergen Bergen (, ) is a city and municipalities of Norway, municipality in Vestland county on the Western Norway, west coast of Norway. Bergen is the list of towns and cities in Norway, second-largest city in Norway after the capital Oslo. By May 20 ...

(now closed). It moved to ''Studentsenteret'' in 1978 (now demolished and rebuilt), and eventually to ''USF Verftet'' in 1994. In 2012 Nattjazz was held in different localities in ''Vågsbunnen'' because of the reconstructions of ''USF Verftet''. During the course of the festival most concerts are held indoors, but with some outdoor concerts too. The festival has also collaborated with other events, such as

Grieghallen Grieg Hall () is a 1,500 seat concert hall located on Edvard Griegs' square in Bergen, Norway, Bergen, Norway. Grieghallen was named in honor of Bergen-born composer Edvard Grieg, who served as music director of the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra ...

. Inside the ''USF Verftet'' there have been concerts on four different stages and the public bought admission to the house, not to individual concerts. The four scenes that were in use varied in capacity from about 70 to 700 people. Some rooms were set up with seating, others primarily with people standing. In addition, it was adapted to include areas where the public could relax and watch what happened at the various stages using internal channels. There were normally several artists on every stage in the course of an evening. This scheme was followed in 2012, although the stages were in different localities. Future plans are to re-establish the ''USF Verftet'' as the main location for events at the festival. Since 2013 Røkeriet at USF Verftet has been the main venue for the Nattjazz events.

Nattjazzprisen or Hansaprisen

Nattjazzprisen or Hansaprisen – verdt å vente på (Hansa Prize) was established in 2005 by the jazz festival Nattjazz in

in collaboration with

Hansa Borg Bryggerier Hansa Borg Bryggerier is a Norway, Norwegian brewery and distribution company which markets beer, bottled water and soft drinks. History Hansa Borg Bryggerier AS was founded in 1997, after a merger between Hansa Bryggeri and Borg Bryggerier. The ...

. The prize worth NKR 50,000 is awarded annually under the Nattjazz in

and is given to an artist the jury believes has international qualities and the potential for international success. The following musicians have been awarded the Hansaprisen: *2005:

Tord Gustavsen Tord Gustavsen (born 5 October 1970) is a Norwegian jazz pianist and composer. He tours extensively worldwide, and he has been a bandleader for a trio, ensemble and quartet at various times, all bearing his name. Early life Gustavsen was born on ...

(piano), from

Hurdal Hurdal is a municipality in Akershus county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Romerike. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Hurdal. Hurdal is located about north of Oslo, along the lake Hurdalsjøen. ...

*2006:

Kjetil Møster Kjetil Traavik Møster (born 17 June 1976) is a Norwegian jazz musician ( tenor and soprano saxophones, clarinet and bass clarinet) and composer, known from bands like The Core, Ultralyd, Brat, Zanussi 5, and performance with Chick Corea at Mol ...

(saxophone), from Os *2007: Helge Lien (piano), from

Moelv Moelv is a town in Ringsaker Municipality in Innlandet county, Norway. The town is located along the shores of the lake Mjøsa, about south of the town of Lillehammer and about the same distance northwest of the town of Hamar. Moelv is the seco ...

Vital/Nattjazz talent award *2004:

Marius Neset Marius Søfteland Neset (born 2 January 1985) is a Norwegian jazz musician (saxophone) living in Copenhagen. He is known from collaborations within the jazz bands "People Are Machines", "Kaktusch", " JazzKamikaze" and Django Bates projects "Sto ...

*2007:

Øyvind Hegg-Lunde Øyvind Hegg-Lunde (born 12 February 1982 in Lærdal, Norway) is a Norwegian drummer and composer, raised in Borgund, Lærdal, but today resides in Bergen. He is known from collaborations with José González (singer), José Gonzalez, Junip, Arv ...

(drums), from

*2009:

Mari Kvien Brunvoll Mari Kvien Brunvoll (born 20 February 1984 in Molde, Norway) is a Norwegian folk and jazz singer who has attracted attention at festivals internationally with her solo concept, where the voice is complemented by small electronic and acoustic in ...

(vocals), from

Molde Molde () is a List of towns and cities in Norway, town and the seat of Molde Municipality in Møre og Romsdal county, Norway. It is located in the Traditional districts of Norway, traditional district of Romsdal. It is located on the Romsdal Pen ...

References

External links

*
Bergen Jazzforum
{{Jazz festival Jazz festivals in Norway Music in Bergen 1972 establishments in Norway Music festivals established in 1972 Festivals in Bergen Culture in Hordaland Annual events in Norway

Biography

Nattjazzprisen or Hansaprisen

See also

References

External links